LeBron James is a great student of the game and always shows appreciation for those that came before him. But, King James has another level of respect for Allen Iverson. Arguably the most iconic figure in the history of the game, Iverson was a hero to kids like James who grew up in the inner cities, the grind required to overcome that type of struggle is one of the most intense situations in sports. Via Sports Illustrated:

“He represented what black kids were all about, and he resonated with every inner-city kid in the world who had a struggle.

“Michael Jordan inspired me, and I looked up to him, but he was out of this world. A.I. was really the god.”